An Organisation to bring all Postal & RMS Pensioners on a single platform and work towards a united platform of all Pensioners Organisations in India - Defend Pension and Defend Social Security ----
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After the
introduction of the members of both official and staff side, the Action taken
Statement placed by the official Side of the meeting held on 4.2.2014 was taken
up for discussion.

1.Abnormal
delay in the issue of revised PPO to Pre 2006 pensioners/family
pensioners. It was reported that about
26000 PPO of pre 1990 and 10,000 cases of pre-2006 retirees are still awaiting
the issuance of revised PPO. It was
reported that the main reason for the delay is the non availability of records
in the case of pensioners. The Staff
side demanded the supply of Department wise break up of the figures to enable
them to take up the issue with the concerned department. This was agreed to. The Staff side further stated that the issue
should not be viewed from the statistics angle
and the official side must appreciate that in the case of pre 1990
cases, the pension remains unrevised for
about 20 to 25 years. It may be that some
of the retires/family pensioners might have expired during this period. The staff side also requested the official
side to appreciate the agony and
difficulties of these pensioners. The
lack of availability of records should not be taken as an excuse . After some further discussion, it was agreed
that by the end of 2014, all pending cases would be cleared. In the case of Railways, the pendency is
about 25000 and in the case of Defence the reported figure was 85,000. It was however noted that serious efforts
have been made by both the Ministries to bring down the number of pending cases
drastically.

2.Revision
of commutation table. The proposal of
the official side was to refer the matter to the 7th CPC, which the
Staff Side objected as unreasonable and bereft of any prupose. The Staff Side pointed out that the 6th
CPC had devised the new commutation table whereby the commutation benefit had
been drastically reduced. When there had
been a reduction in the commutation benefit, the tenancy period of commutation
ought to have been reduced. The 6th
CPC has gone on records to state that the period must remain 15 years
as there will have to be sufficient room for cross subsidisation. The Staff Side pointed out that when the
commutation time was fixed at 15 years long time back, the mortality rate was
much higher than it was today and therefore, there had been no justification
for the recommendations made by the 6th CPC. They also pointed out that the official side
in an earlier meeting had agreed to
refer the matter to an expert committee and subject their recommendation to
discussion with the Staff Side. The 6th
CPC was not an expert body on this matter and they had to depend upon a
professional agency. The Staff Side for
this reason objected to the Official Side proposal. The Chairman, after due consideration, wanted
the Finance Ministry to appoint an expert committee and refer the issue to that
committee to consider the demand in the light of the interest rate, morality
rate, life expectancy etc.

3.Equitable
gratuity under Rule 50 of Pension Rules. The suggestion made by the Staff Side
was to change the slab system by introducing a slab upto 11 years and another
upto 20 years. Taking into account the fact that the last slab system was
intrdocued on the basis of the recommendations of the 5th CPC, the
issue might be referred to the 7th CPC. The Department of Pension has already
referred the same to the 7th CPC and the Staff side has been assured
to be supplied with a copy thereof.

NEW
ITEMS:

(A).
Increase in Family Pension. The demand of
the Staff Side was agreed to be specifically referred to the 7th
CPC.

(b)
Cashless and hassle- free treatment in recognised hospital. The Official side agreed to ensure that the
pensioners are not put to any difficulty in the matter by the recognised
hospitals. When the staff side pointed
out that the Health Ministry had not been paying the dues to the recognised
hospital and that has led to the denial of cashless facility, the Health
Ministry denied the same. The Staff side
wanted the Health Ministry officials to immediately convene a meeting as the
last meeting has been held more two years back.
The Health Ministry has decided to look into the matter and explore the
possibility of convening such a meeting within a month’s time.

(c)
Finalisation of family pension cases within a specified period.

The
official side pointed out that the procedure has been simplified and
liberalised, The Staff Side pointed out
that the delay is caused more by the attitude than on any factual
deficiency. They, therefore, suggested
for the introduction of a provisional family pension scheme as is the case with
the pension for those who face inquiry proceedings. They suggested the grant of 75% of the family
pension immediately on receipt of application and the rest after the scrutiny
of the claim. They also asked for a time
frame for finalisation of the claim in as much as the applications must be
disposed of within three months.

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) on its entering 70th year of formation has given a clarion call for observance its founding day i.e.3rd October 2014 as International Action Day on the specific slogan of "FIGHTING AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT, FOR DIGNIFIED WORK, PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR UNEMPLOYED,PERMANENT AND STABLE WORK".

In order to plan and effectively implement the call of the WFTU, a meeting was convened at BEFI office on 17.09.2014 at 4.30 pm.

Leaders from the above organisations participated.

Decisions:

As 3rd October happens to be a holiday, it has been decided to observe the Action Day on 08.10.2014,Wednesday.

In Chennai an evening dharna has been planned between 4pm and 7 pm. The Confederation of Central Government Employees Federation will take the lead.

Dharna or demonstration to be held in the following centres. 1.Vellore 2.Salem 3.Erode 4.Coimbatore 5.Tanjore 6.Trichy 7.Dindigul 8.Madurai 9.Tirunelveli 10.Tuticorin

Handbills and posters are to be released for mobilisation of the members. One speaker from Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) can be invited as the theme is regarding employment.

Leaflet for public about the WFTU call and the demand can be distributed before the dharna/demonstration.

The Central, State Government, Public Sector Pensioners' organisations co-ordination committee will take lead to organise dharna/demo in the following centres : Vellore, Salem, Erode, Madurai.

Similarly AIIEA will take lead in Tanjore and Tirunelveli; BEFI in Coimbatore; DREU in Trichy ; TNGEA in Dindigul; BSNLEU in Tuticorin.

The Government has approved and accordingly orders for DA increase to the level of 107% had been released by the Finance Ministry that had been circulated by several Ministries for serving employees. However, it is surprising to note that the same DA increase to Central Government Pensioners is yet to be released by the Ministry of Pension and Pensioners Welfare. The usual quickness with which the Pensioners Ministry used to circulate the orders for DA increase is absent this time. The delay is causing the senior citizens to worry. We therefore request you to intervene and cause release of the said orders immediately.

Monday, 22 September 2014

On October 3rd, 2014 the WFTU calls the
trade unions in all countries to organize activities,
strikes, demonstrations, rallies confronting the crucial problem of
unemployment and demanding rights for the unemployed. Unemployment is an
issue that can unite workers all over the world, in order to organize
under the banners, the slogans and the principles of the WFTU various
militant activities with the aim to mobilize the unemployed workers, to
include these workers in the trade unions and promote the constant
focus of the unions to work with the unemployed. The mobilizations
and activities will demand permanent and stable jobs for all, the
elimination of the causes that generate the unemployment, measures for the
protection of the unemployed.

Our AIPRPA All India Conference held at Vellore has taken a decision to unite with Pensioners movement of the entire world which the WFTU sponsored TUI Pensioners and Senior Citizens has also undertaken. In this background the AIPRPA CHQ calls upon all our State Associations to take immediate steps to join with all middle class employees trade union organisations like the Confederation of CG Employees, All India State Government Employees Federation, Trade Union Associations in LIC, Bank, BSNL as well as other PSU organisations as well as all Pensioners Organisations belonging to Central Government, State Government, State and Central Public Sector etc to jointly observe the call given by WFTU.

In Tamilnadu a meeting of various employees organisations like the AIIEA, BEFI, TNGEA, Confederation of CG Employees, BSNL, DREU etc as well as the Tamilnadu State Coordinating Committee of Central, State Government and Public Sector Pensioners Organisations was held on 17th September, 2014 at the Union office of Bank Employees Federation of India . The following decisions have been taken:

1. To observe the WFTU Call on 8th October instead of 3rd October as 3.10.2014 falls on a holiday and also many holidays in that week.

2. The programme will be a three hours dharna in Chennai from 4.00 P.M to 7.00 P.M.

3. A hand bill and a wall poster will be released on behalf of all the participating organisations.

4. The Programme will be observed in the following 10 Centres in Tamilnadu and each centre will have an Incharge Organisation for conducting the Programme as follows:

AIPRPA CHQ calls upon all the Office Bearers of CHQ, State Associations, District / Divisional Associations to get in touch with all other organisations and mobilise and involve our Postal Pensioners in large numbers in observing the WFTU Programme in their respective centres. A report by Email / SMS to CHQ may be sent about holding the programme.

Friday, 19 September 2014

Department of Pension and
Pensioners’ Welfare has issued Office Memorandum No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated
26.08.2014 addressed to Railway Board and copy marked to Ministry of Finance
D/o Expenditue, conveying its decision to implement Revision of Pension of
Pre-2006 Pensioners based on Fitment Table w.e.f 1.1.2006 as per order dated
1.11.2011 of Hon’ble CAT, Principal Bench in OA No.655/2010 (after the appeals
/ review Petition against the said order dated 1.11.2011 were dismissed by
Hon’ble High Court of Delhi and Hon’ble Supreme Court) only to members of Central Government SAG (S-29) (i.e. Pre-6th
CPC Pay Scale S-29) Pensioners’ Association.

It is pertinent to note here that
even as per Para 2 of Office Memorandum No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated
26.08.2014 given below (which was issued to implement revision of pension only
to SAG (S-29) Pensioners’ Association ) Hon’ble
CAT Delhi had directed to re-fix the pension not only to petitioners but also
to all pre-2006 retirees w.e.f 1.1.2006. But the present order of the
Government creating a new wedge between the pre-2006 retirees as belonging to
S-29 scale and belonging to other pay scales! Earlier it was indicated by the
Government that the Court Order will be implemented only to petitioner
organisation membership but now it has ordered for all pre-2006 retirees who
retired in S-29 Pay Scale! The Government is taking stances peculiarly and
without any logic as well as against the Court Orders repeatedly.

Now, a simple logical question
props up in the minds of all Pre-2006 Pensioners, while Department of Pension
decides to implement CAT’s order dated 1.11.2011 w.e.f 1.1.2006, had directed
to re-fix the pension not only to petitioners but also to all pre-2006 retirees
w.e.f 1.1.2006, how the same could be made applicable only to Petitioners when
order of CAT dated 1.11.2011 attained finality ? Does the Government expects
each and every Pre-2006 Pensioner in this Country to exhaust all the Legal
Courses right from CAT to Supreme Court to get revision of Pension with effect
from 01.01.2006 ?

No.38/37/08-P&PW(A)

Government of India

Ministry of
Personnel, PG & Pensions

Department of Pension
& Pensioners Welfare

3rd floor, Lok Nayak
Bhawan

Khan Market, New Delhi

Dated the 26th August 2014

Office Memorandum

Sub: Implementation of Government’s decision in pursuance to CAT,
Principal Bench, New Delhi order dated 15.05.2014 – Revision of Pension of
Members of Central Government SAG (S-29) Pensioner’s Association – Reg.

The undersigned is directed to
say that as per Para 4.2 of the Department’s OM of even number dated 1.9.2008
relating to revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners w.e.f 1.1.2006, the
revised pension w.e.f 1.1.2006, in no case shall be lower than 50% of the sum
of the minimum of pay in the pay band and grade pay thereon
corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the pensioner had
retired. A clarification was issued vide DoP&PW OM of even number dated 3.10.2008
that the pension calculated at 50% of minimum of pay in the pay band plus grade
pay would be calculated at the minimum of the pay in the pay in pay band
(irrespective of the pre-revised scale of pay) plus the grade pay corresponding
to the pre-revised pay scale. It was also clarified that the pension will be
reduced pro-rata where the pensioner had less than the maximum required service
for full pension as per Rule 49 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, as applicable
before 1.1.2006 and in no case it will be less than Rs. 3500/- p.m.

2. Central Government SAG (S-29)
Pensioners’ Association along with Shri. Satish Verma, Retd. Chief Engineer,
Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources had filed OA No.655/2010 in
the Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi inter
alia claiming that the revised pension of the pre-2006 pensioners should not be
less than 50% of minimum of the pay band + grade pay corresponding to the
pre-revised pay scale from which pensioner had retired as arrived at with
reference to the fitment tables annexed to Ministry of Finance, Department of
Expenditure OM. No 1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008. Three other OAs were
also filed by some pre-2006 pensioners in CAT, Principal Bench on the same
issue. CAT Principal Bench New Delhi
vide its order dated 1.11.2011 decided all the four OAs and directed to re-fix
the pension of all pre-2006 retirees w.e.f 1.1.2006 based on the resolution
dated 29.08.2008.

3. The above order was challenged
by the Government by filing Writ Petition No. 1535/2012 and WP No. 2348-50/12
in the High Court of Delhi. The High Court noticed that the DoP&PW had in
the meanwhile issued OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 28.01.2013 which provided
for stepping up of pension of pre-2006 pensioners w.e.f 24.09.2012 to 50% of
the minimum of pay in pay band and grade pay corresponding to pre-revised pay
scale from which pensioner had retired. The High Court also noted the contents
of Para 5 of the OM dated 28.01.2013 according to which the pension will be
reduced pro-rata where the pensioner had less than the maximum required service
as per Rule 49 of the CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 as applicable before 1.1.2006
and in no case it will be less than Rs. 3500/- p.m. Hon’ble High Court observed
that the only issued which survives i.e with reference to paragraph 9 of the OM
dated 28.01.2013 which makes it applicable w.e.f 24.09.2012, and thereby
denying arrears to be paid to the pensioners with effect from 01.01.2006. The
writ petition No. 1535/2012 along with 3 other writ petitions was dismissed by
the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi on 29.04.2013.

4. An SLP No. 23055/2013 filed
against the order dated 29.04.2013 of Delhi High Court in WP (C) No. 1535/2012
was dismissed by Hon’ble Supreme Court on 29.07.2013. The Review Petition and Curative
Petition filed by Government against the dismissal of SLP No. 23055/2013 have
also been dismissed.

5. As a Civil Appeal No.
8875-76/2011 on the similar issue filed by Ministry of Defence was pending in
the Supreme Court, Union of India filed an SLP (CC) No. 18339-41/2013
(converted in to SLP (C) No.36148-50/2013. In it order dated 19.11.2013,
Hon’ble Supreme Court was pleased to issue Notice on this SLP and directed to
list the SLP along with Civil Appeal No. 8875-76/2011. Hon’ble Supreme Court
also took on record the following statement of Respondent Pensioners in the order
dated 19.11.2013:

“During the pendency of these
Petitions, respondent-writ Petitioner shall not precipitate the matter by
filing contempt proceedings either before the High Court or before the
Tribunal”

6. The Contempt Petition
No.158/2012, filed in OA No.655/2010 came up for hearing before the Hon’ble
CAT, Principal Bench New Delhi in its order dated 15.05.2014 noted the
submission by Govt. Counsel that the Ministry of Law has advised the Department
to implement the order dated 1.11.2011 of Hon’ble CAT, Principal Bench in OA
No. 655/2010 qua the petitioners. In view of this, Hon’ble CAT disposed of the
Contempt Petition with direction to respondents to implement the directions of
the Tribunal expeditiously preferably within three months.

7. In Implementation of the order
dated 1.11.2011 of Hon’ble CAT, Principal Bench in OA No.655/2010 and order
dated 15.05.2014 of the Hon’ble CAT in CP No. 158/2012, it has been decided
that the revised pension of members of Central Government SAG (S-29) Pensioners
Association (as given in the enclosed list) will not be less than the 50% of
the sum of the minimum of pay in the pay band and the grade pay thereon
corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which they had retired as
arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance,
Department of Expenditure OM No.1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008 of Ministry
of Finance (Department of Expenditure)

8. The normal family pension in
respect of Central Government SAG (s-29) Pensioners Association (as given in
the enclosed list) as revised w.e.f 1.1.2006 in terms of Para 4.1 or Para 4.2
of the OM dated 1.9.2008 would also be further stepped up to 30% of the sum of
minimum of pay in the pay band and the grade pay corresponding to the
pre-revised pay scale in which the Government servant had retired as arrived at
with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance of
Department of Expenditure OM No.1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August 2008 of Ministry
of Finance (Department of Expenditure).

9. In case the consolidated
pension/family pension calculated as per Para 4.1 of OM no 38/37/08-P&PW
(A) dated 1.9.2008 in respect of member of Central Government SAG 9S-29)
pensioners Association (as per enclosed list) is higher than the Pension/family
pension calculated in the manner indicated above the same (higher consolidated
Pension /family pension) will continue to be treated as basic pension/family
pension.

10. All other conditions as given
in OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 1.9.2008, as amended from timed to time
shall remain unchanged in the case of pensioners as given in the list.

Friday, 5 September 2014

RELEASE OF AIC SOUVENIR TOMORROW AT VELLORE

A Special Meeting to release the Souvenir of 1st AIC as well as to thank and honour the Reception Committee Comrades including various sub-committees and also the District Secretaries who topped the donation and advertisement collection to the AIC is taking place tomorrow at Vellore.

The meeting will commence at 15.00 Hrs at Belliayappa Building near Vellore HPO. The meeting will be attended by various leaders including the State President of AIPRPA Comrade M.Kannaiyan and Comrade K.Ragavendran the General Secretary of AIPRPA.

The Reception Committee General Secretary will ensure despitch of Souvenirs to all concerned shortly.